Ch. 7 Interest Groups

Why do Interest groups form?

- a disturbance or change can heighten ppl's awareness that they need political representation David Truman disturbance Theory- when individuals are threatened by change, they band together. Political scientist Robert Salisbury says the quality of interest group leadership is a crucial facotr (organized or not)

legal Advocacy

- another direct but different approach used by an interest group to achieve its policy goals through litigation-- claiming some violation of law, a group will file a lawsuit and ask that a judge make a ruling that will benefit the organization.

Most prominent interest groups in US

-AFL-CIO (represent LABOR union members) -The American Farm Bureau (represent FARMERS) -Business Roundtable (represents big BUSINESS) -Common Cause (represents CITIZENS concerned with reforming govt.)

Interest Group Entrepreneurs

-An interest group organizer. Usually at considerable personal financial risk. -must have something attractive to "market" in order to convince ppl to join the group. Potential members must b persuaded that the benefits of joining outweigh the costs. -Ex. Cesar Chavez- mexican farm worker (ex of the importance of leadership in group) -People who have money, education, and knowledge of how the system operates are more confident that their actions can make a difference

PAC (political action Committee)

-An organization that pools campaign contributors from group members and donates those funds to candidates for political office.

3. Information Campaigns

-An organized effort to gain public backing by bringing a group's views to public attention -send speakers to various parts of the country, produce pamphlets and handouts, take out newspaper advertising, or create websites. -sponsoring research

1. Direct Lobbying

-Attempts to influence a legislators vote through personal contact with the legislator -a lobbyist meets with a member of Congress, an agency official, or a staff member. -indirectly say "Vote for this bill and it will help you out in the next election"

Attracting New members

-Groups try to distinguish themselves from competitors by concentrating on a few key issues and developing a reputation as most involved/ knowledgeable -Internet now important in soliciting members. (e-mail) ~cheaper/ recipient may click on their website and make a donation ~Facebook- fundraising

Lobbyists

-Interest groups use part of the money they use to pay (blank) they make sure people in govt know what their members want and that their organizations know what the govt is doing. -they can be full time employees of a group or employees of public relations or law firms hired

5. Program Monitoring

-Keeping track of govt programs. When a program is not operating as it should, concerned interest groups push administrators to resolve probs in way's that promote the groups goals.

Who donates mostly to Democrats?

-Labor Unions donate almost exclusively to them.

2. Grassroots Lobbying

-Lobbying activities performed by interest groups members and may also include people outside the organization who sympathize with its goals. -tactics such as letter-writing campaigns, telephone calls, and protests -if ppl in government seem unresponsive to conventional lobbying tactics, a group might resort to some form of political protest (picketing or marching)

Citizen Group

-Lobbying organization built around policy concerns unrelated to a members job -ex. Lawyer member of environmental interest group

Why do interest groups form PAc's?

-Lobbyists believe that campaign contributors help signifigantly when they are trying to gain an audience with a member of Congress. -a member of Congress would find it difficult to turn down a lobbyist request for a meeting if a PAC from organization had made a big donation to the campaign.

4. Agenda Building

-The process by which new issues are brought into the political limelight ex. Labor Unions have played big role in gaining attention for probs that were being ignored.

Free-rider problem

-The situation in which people benefit from the activities of an organization (such as an interest group) but do not contribute to those activities. ("let George do it") -ex. public tv-- same access as a contributor

Which groups gain members more easily?

-business, professional, and labor organizations have an easier time than citizen groups

"evil" side of Interest Groups

-each group pushes its own selfish interests, which are not always in the best interest of other Americans.

1. Members

-give an organization political muscle to influence policy but also financial resources. -more money group can collect from dues/ contributions the more ppl it can hire to lobby govt officials/ moniter policymaking -funding helps group to maintain its membership & attract new members

Criteria of a lobbyist

-look for someone who knows their way around washington. has experience, knowledge, and bargaining skills. -insurance company lobbyist salary 1.6 million annually -many representatives and senators are drawn to this job after leaving congress

solving Free-rider problem

-many organizations offer membership benefits that have nothing to do with politics or lobbying -Use Lobbyists

downside of grassroot lobbying

-policy making is a long term, incrememtnal process, but demonstration is only short lived. -it is difficult to sustain anger/ activism among group supporters

2. Participation

-provide a means by which like-minded citizens can pool their resources/ channel their energies into collective political action ex. 10000 of farmers united in an organization (better at chance @ being heard)

Stereotype of Lobbyist

-questionable ethics because they trade on their connections and may hand out donations as well as raise money for legislators -however, their primary job is to pass on info to their employers and policy makers. They provide govt officials with constant flow of data that supports their organizations policy goals. -trying to convince policymakers that their data deserves more attention and is more accurate than others.

1. Representation

-represent ppl before their govt. Ex. A lobbyist for the National Assoc of Broadcasters speaks for the interests of radio and tv broadcasters when Congress or a govt agency is considering a relevant policy decision. -Groups articulate their members' concerns, presenting them directly/ forcefully in the political process

lobbyist

-representative of an interest group.

Coalition building

-the banding together of several interest groups for the purpose of lobbying. -form most often among groups that work in the same policy area and have similar constituencies, such as environmental groups or feminist groups -lobbyists see an advantage in having a diverse coalition

best represented in interest group system?

-those who work in business or with a high level of education, high incomes are most likely to be a member

3. Education

-to increase participation and efforts to lobby (gain attention), groups try to educate their member, the public, and govt officials. -policymakers do not have full understanding of issues/ industries therefore I groups provide them with info not easily attained by other sources.

how much can a PAC give?

-under federal law, a PAC can give as much as $5,000 to a candidate for Congress each separate election. -well over 4,000 PAC's contributing to congressional candidates.

James Madison & American Opinion of Interest groups

-warned of the dangers of "factions" in Federalist papers No. 10-- believed the structure of govt would ensure that even a majority group could never come to suppress the rights of others. -(need to be controlled) -how we judge these groups as "Good" or "Bad", depends on how strongly we are committed to "Freedom" or "Equality" -In survey, almost 2/3 of Americans see lobbying as a threat to Democracy.. we distrust interest groups as a whole, but ike those that speak on our behalf

How Interest groups benefit

1. Representation 2. Participation 3. Education 4. Agenda building 5. Program Monitering

Significant Resources

1. members 2. lobbyists 3. money, including funds that can be contributed to political candidates -quantity and wisdom with use of resources

Interest Groups (a lobby)

An organized group of individuals that seek to influence public policy. -also called lobbies & reps are referred to as lobbyists

Pluralist Opinion

Unlike madison, they believe Interest groups are a good thing: they further democracy by expanding representation within the system.